Arena Latina

SUE MILNER
Susan started dancing as a 9 year old and has gained all IDTA certificates in Latin American and Ballroom dance. She has given performances in Salsa and arranges dance workshops and Salsa events.

JUAN MUNOZ
Qualified dance instructor and choreographer, born in Havana, Cuba, Juan started training and learning dance in Cuba as a 15 years old and studied at the University of Havana for 11 years. A Graduate of dance, specialising in Afro-Cuban dance Rumba and Yoruba, Salsa, Son, Mambo and Cha Cha Cha.
Authentic Cuban salsa dance classes weekly in the Manchester area with Juan Munoz from Havana, and Susan. Juan is a charismatic specialist in ‘Bailes Populares’ who trained at the University of Havana, had his own dance troupe and represented Cuba in World dance championships. He has performed and taught in Cuba and the UK for many years. Susan, who originally trained in Latin/Ballroom, has taught with Juan for 11 years in the UK after training in Cuban Salsa for many years, both in Cuba, UK and with Juan. The classes are fun and informative, parties which are lively with a great atmosphere and we welcome anyone who is willing to learn and can ’smile’!
Specialists in Cuban Salsa, Son, Afro Cuban folkloric, Rumba, La Rueda de Casino, etc. Classes in Manchester city centre, Rochdale, Chadderton, Stockport 10 week courses in Manchester.
Masterclasses in Cuban ‘Son’/AfroCuban

DON KAR
I am based in London. My first dance is Salsa which I have been dancing for about 11 years. I have been dancing Kizomba for about 6 years and teaching Kizomba for nearly 2 years.
I have taught inside and outside of London.  I am the resident teacher for ‘Chocolate Kizomba’ at the Gem Bar in Central London.
In the UK I have taught for, The Latin Collective, Salsatricity, Salsaflava, Salsalicimo UK, Salsalicious, LetsgoSalsa, Salsa Chillout, Kizomba Reading, Salsa Calientita, Salsajulia, Kizomba Connexion, Atlantis to name a few…
I have also taught in Ireland, Spain, Vienna and Dubai.
I run a monthly party night and workshop in Norwich.

MOE FLEX
Born in Somaliland, East Africa, Moe spent his childhood travelling. Known for his bubbly, larger than life personality, he started to dance at the age of 4 mimicking Michael Jackson.
Moe is one of the most exciting, inspiring and entertaining choreographers on the International Latin dance scene today! His boundless enthusiasm for dance is impossible to ignore and he has gained his reputation through sheer hard work, dedication, determination and talent. By adding his personal touch to everything he does, Moe ensures every dance class and/or workshop is a positive and memorable experience and one which will always leave you wanting more. Moe has a great following of students throughout the whole world who are keen to improve their Latin dance technique and others who just want to enjoy his fun classes. Mind you, it’s not surprising when you think he has worked with the likes of Roudeep, Tim Westwood, 50 Cent, Blu Cantrell, Craig David and Madonna.
Latin styles that Moe teaches: Cross Body Salsa On1, Cross Body Salsa On2, Cuban Salsa, La Rueda , Merengue, Reggaeton, Cha Cha Cha, Bachata (both Dominican and Italian), Hip Hop, Puerto Rican On2, Street.

Timeline

1998 Choreographed routines for Bollywood acts including RDB and Ruthless.

1999 Choreographed and performed for MTV R&B acts including Blu Cantrell and 50 Cent.

2000 Choreographed for the 2000 MOBO awards.

2000 Started learning Salsa – Winner of the UKA British Amateur Championships.

2001 Winner of the British Threesome Championships.

2006 Leading role in “El Barrio”, the hit Salsa musical. 2006 Moe awarded “UK’s Most Popular Cuban Teacher” .

2007 Invited to teach and perform at Glastonbury Festival 2007 – featured live on the BBC television coverage and interviewed for Radio One.

2007 Moe Flex Dance Company formed.

2008 Includes- Choreography for the production of the middle east salsa congress.

2009 Voted UK Teacher of the Year.

2010 Voted Runner-up UK Teacher of the Year.

LORETA JUZENAITE & LEONARD
Leonard started his dancing carrier over 17 years ago but he is currently best known as DJ-Latin Master on the salsa scene. Over many years of dancing in different countries, Leo created a unique style which he readily demonstrates through social dancing.
Apart from great dancing skills, he is recognized as one of the best Salsa DJs in Holland. He has also performed in many European countries and a  number of places around the globe spinning various styles of music from 60s and 70’s Guaguanco to mambo, Cuban and New York salsa.
Loreta started dancing when she was six at a ballroom and Latin dance school. Her passion and hard work brought her stunning results. In 2008 she moved to England and discovered salsa, where just few months later she became the winner of the Salsa Championship hosted by the British Dance Council.
Through sheer hard work and determination she has rapidly earned her place with one of the best known salsa companies in England and fostered a strong reputation as one of the top female salsa dancers in the UK. Possessing a great capability to dance different styles and an enormous desire to grow, she has worked with some one of the world’s top salsa dancers, such as Darlin Garcia & Shaka Brown (US), Rafael Del Busto (Cuba/The Czech Republic), Patrick Mussendijk (Holland), and Ozy Shine (Croatia/UK).Leo and Loreta met each other through their passion for dancing. With many years of experience in different styles such as Latin and Ballroom, K-groove, Jazz, Contemporary and Salsa, dancers wanted to bring their knowledge in different way, prospective or form.Leo and Loreta started their partnership with England Tour in 2011 April , followed by Ireland Tour . By showing their emotions, energy, smiles and passion during performance and classes they own the crowd and secured their attendance in one of the best festivals and events around the Europe.

LEO – AKA DJ LATIN MASTER (HOLLAND)
Leonard – in salsa world better known as DJ Latin Master is born in Curaçao. His dj career started at age of 14 as R&B, Hip Hop and Urban music dj. In 1998 he did his first salsa steps and felt in love with salsa and its music. In the same year he moved to Holland for his studies and was introduced to the salsa scene there. After a year he became a salsa Dj still playing Urban, R&B, Hip Hop etc. Now he specialized also in Salsa and Guaguanco. Besides his excellent djing he is also an amazing salsa dancer!

VIVIENNE VICENTE

Vivienne (1987) was raised by her Portuguese father and Spanish mother who encouraged her to dance. After ballet and gymnastics, Vivienne started her first salsa class at the age of 14 and has been dancing salsa ever since. At that same age she started dancing the Argentine tango, a dance that stole her heart as well.

After dancing in several salsa show groups (including Salsaddiction and Matanza), Vivienne wanted to use more of her own creativity. A way to express herself more fully. In 2008 the magic happened when she started dancing with her current dance partner. Ronald and Vivienne have succeeded to become one of the top dancers in the Netherlands. They performed all over the Netherlands, Europe and in NYC.
She encourages people to never stop learning and takes every opportunity herself to learn from the dancers that inspire her. In 2010 she went to New York to take classes from the world’s greatest dance company, Yamulee. She will do the same this year! She even performed a small piece in one of their choreographies with her dance partner Ronald.

Vivienne is known for her energetic and technical dancing, her tremendous talent for spinning and her refined way of moving. She maintains very high standards with her elegance, suppleness and the way she finishes all of her movements.

RONALD & VIVIENNE

Ronald and Vivienne started dancing together 5 years ago and won 2nd Place at the Curacao Salsatour 2008. They are one of the top couples in the Netherlands and are booked almost every weekend in The Netherlands and now across Europe.

VELMA DANDZO

Velma is a singer/songwriter, music tutor and Kizomba instructor. For the last 2 years she has been teaching Kizomba in the North West. Through her infectious enthusiasm and passion she contributes to the growing phenomenon that is Kizomba in Manchester.

Her aim is to impart Kizomba in the most authentic teaching style possible. Her clear instructions and teaching style enables her students to dance confidently. Velma’s strength lies in emphasising musical interpretation mixed with sharing valuable knowledge of heritage and history of the dance Manchester is falling in love with.

You may have seen Velma hosting Kizomba workshops in Manchester, teaching at GBSex (2010, Salsa Congress), Wales, Birmingham and London. She also holds regular weekly classes at the MMU on Tuesday’s.

As part of Pitanga Dance, Velma teaches regularly London and has taught at several Dance Congresses in the UK (Salsa Splash-Hayling, Kent Salsa Festival, Fitness Weekender 2011,Latinfest 2012 Torquay, Taste of World Dance 2012 Manchester)

In any of Velma’s classes you are guaranteed lots of laughter, fun, confidence in execution of steps and more importantly walk away with understanding of the essence of the dance and its rich history.

TOM & KWAI SCOTT

Tom and Kwai have partner danced for the last 15 years in a variety of Club styles that include Jive, Lindy Hop, NY and Cuban Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and more recently Kizomba.

Both Tom and Kwai are fully qualified Latin Club dance teachers through the UKA system and have been teaching dance since 2006/7.

Both have been dancing Kizomba for the last 3 years and have travelled all over Europe for Workshops, conferences and private lessons. More recently taught Kizomba at the Cuban and Latin dance Shangri-la weekender and are now regular Kizomba teachers on the Dance Action Holiday calendar.  Tom and Kwai are not just Kizomba dance teachers, they are Kizomba addicts and will be heading back to the beaches of Porto in August for the second year for the Afrolatin 10 day Lusso dance conference.

Kizomba is an incredibly emotional and musically connected dance that originated in Angola and has only really been danced outside of the Portuguese and Angolan communities in the last 5 years. It is both sensual and lyrical at the same time and the scope for interpretation and interplay between the leader and follower is quite possibly unique in the world of dance.

DAMARYS FARRES

Crowned the Queen of Rumba and Afro-Cuban dances. Director and sole founder of The Cuban School of Arts in London, UK Cuban Salsa Champion, UKA qualified licentiate dance teacher and BA (Hons) Dance Studies. Damarys is a leading Cuban qualified and graduate dancer and choreographer. She is an instructor and researcher of the Cuban and Afro-Cuban culture, dance forms and rhythms. She has been nominated one of the best female Cuban dancers and teachers in the UK.

FADI K

Fadi K. has many talents, equally at home teaching salsa or DJ-ing. He discovered salsa in 2002 and since then has gone on to teach and DJ throughout the UK and abroad. In a comparatively short time he has developed a proven track record in many areas and has established himself nationally and internationally. Fadi has worked with organisations as diverse as the Latin Collective UK, the Salsa School of Malta, salsa explosion, Salsology, LatinTR  Turkey and WR Talent. He’s the founder of the FK dance company and the artistic director for LA RUEDA DEL MUNDO SCHOOL. He has DJ’d around the world – in Spain, Turkey, Italy, Malta, Lebanon, Ireland and throughout the UK to name but a few. He has competed as a Dj internationally with great success, ie 2006 London Urban DJ and International Beat Championship: 1st place.

KAREN AKA SALSAROJA
Karen aka Salsaroja is a Salsa & Latin Dance teacher, DJ and promoter based in Liverpool, UK. She is also a proud mum to 3 sons… She heads the Salsaroja Team of dance teachers who provide Salsa & Zumba classes and events in Liverpool, Wirral and Warrington. Director & Organiser of ‘Liverpool Salsa Festival’ & Organiser of ‘Southport Salsa Festival’. She has choreographed dance scenes for ‘Hollyoaks’ and appeared teaching Boxers to dance Salsa on ‘Boxing Academy’ for Channel 4.

Karen is a qualified teacher – Certificate of Education (Hons – Adult Education) and used Latin dance as her teaching basis. She also has a degree in Psychology/Sociology, and holds qualifications in IT, Web Design, Law and Business courses as well as being Zumba Certified ‘ZIN’ member.

With dance experience gained in Salsa clubs in California, Europe and Cuba, she now teaches both ‘Lead & Follower’ roles for Salsa Fusion, La Rueda, Cha Cha, Merengue, Bachata and increasingly popular ‘Salsa Aerobics’ & ZUMBA. Her working knowledge is increased each year with regular trips to Cuba and Europe to dance, perform and learn, as well as fitness training courses.
Lessons are fun, with student centered, no ego approach…
“I feel very proud to know that many Salsa dancers in Liverpool learnt their first Salsa steps and how to enjoy Salsa with the Salsaroja Team. To now be able to also add ZUMBA to our Latin Party is amazing… Get fit, have fun and feel the difference! ZUMBA really is exercise in disguise!!!”

GILL ALLEYNE

Gill has been dancing salsa for 13+ years and teaching for about 10 of those. She is a fully qualified SEN teacher and use this knowledge to teach fun, accessible no ego lessons to all.

She holds regular weekly classes at all levels in salsa, merengue, bachata and Cha Cha and also offers an intro to bachata tango. Her greatest pleasure comes from delivering lessons to absolute beginners and taking pride in helping them to take the first steps in becoming a salsa addict!

Gill is regularly asked to guest teach in Liverpool, North Wales and Chester where she is known for a fun-filled lesson with lots of laughter alongside the learning of new things.

Her personal favourite is Cha Cha closely followed by Cuban style salsa but Gill also likes to fuse these with cross body style to allow people to find their own individual style and passion of dance.

Please note that Arena Travel and Club Cubana reserve the right to vary the advertised programme and artistes.